As much as we are on our feet, foot issues can be cause for a drastic change in pace and even schedule. You can consider bunions one of those “foot issues” that has the potential to alter your daily life if you let it. However, it is also a condition that you can often treat effectively with natural cures. Some of the home remedies for bunions include chamomile, calendula, and turmeric.
What Are Bunions?
Mayo Clinic defines a bunion as a “bony bump” that develops at the base of your big toe on the joint. Most often, the deformity forms as you big toe pushes against the toe next to it and forces the joint out of alignment. This misalignment also causes the joint of your big toe to get bigger and to protrude further out than it normally would. While bunions are most common on the joint of your big toe, smaller bunions or bunionettes can develop on your little toes.
Are There Any Natural Remedies for Bunions?
While most bunions do not require medical treatment, a podiatrist or orthopedic foot specialist can help you if you have persistent pain, a visible mass on your joint, or decreased movement in your toe or foot. Otherwise, bunions generally respond well to natural, at home remedies. Chamomile, calendula, and turmeric are three of the most effective natural remedies, but there are other options as well.
1. Chamomile
Research presented by LiveStrong.com suggests that a number of herbal remedies are effective for providing relief from bunion issues – one treatment being chamomile. This herbal remedy contains anti-inflammatory properties that help shrink the size of your bunion and relieve pain associated with the condition. Try drinking chamomile tea and applying used teabags directly to your bunion.
2. Calendula
Calendula is a treatment supported by Dr. James A. Duke, as it also has anti-inflammatory properties. You can often find calendula compounds or ointments in health food stores or nutrition shops. Apply the compound to your bunions 2 to 3 times daily for up to a week.
3. Turmeric
Dr. Weil suggests using turmeric or other hot spices for treating bunions. The capsaicin contained in turmeric helps reduce inflammation and reduces pain. Try drinking 1 teaspoon of turmeric dissolved in 8 ounces of water as a natural anti-inflammatory.
WebMD also suggests the importance of staying active, wearing comfortable shoes, and protecting bunions or sensitive areas with moleskin. Try any combination of these natural cures, or keep reading below to find out more about treating bunions naturally with tips from our readers!
References:
Bunions – http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02916/Bunions.html
Bunions: Home Treatment – http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/bunions-home-treatment
Diseases and Conditions: Bunions – http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bunions/basics/definition/con-20014535
Herbs That Shrink Bunions – http://www.livestrong.com/article/496923-herbs-that-shrink-bunions/
I have believed that massaging my bunions was one of the best things to do for them…I usually do it myself but I REALLY REALLY like it when my husband does it because he just seems to be able to grab them better and his hands are stronger than mine. The only problem is when I FINALLY get him to do it, he just does it for a couple of minutes or falls asleep..I massage his back and get it really good but he has no heart in it when it is my turn..What can I do to get the same passionate massages in return..HELP my bunions are killing me and I work in high heels for 5-6 hours every time I'm there!!! It's getting to the point that they hurt so bad ALL the time and just throb constantly!! I have to work tonight and I'm afraid that I am really going to destroy my feet if I keep on like this…I'm so screwed!!! 🙁
Nicole, it seems obvious that your high heels are causing your bunions. Read a bit of Katy Bowman's blog over at katysays.com. Can you find a comfortable and fashionable shoe to work in?
Yeah, I'd ditch the shoes in a heartbeat! Find some comfortable shoes in a wide width… and go barefoot at home whenever possible. Earth Shoes or Aerosoles are good options for fashionable comfy shoes. I actually have some very comfy Naturalizers that get compliments often – and I've stood for hours and walked for miles in those without a complaint.
I had bunions on both feet for many years and it wasn’t till I came to the Philippines that I got rid of them completely. I had two large bunions, one on the top of my big toe and one at the base — on both feet.
Doctors seem to believe that bunions are caused genetically or by rubbing on the shoe. I think this is bunk. Bunions are caused by deep-seated subdermal fungal/bacterial infestations in these regions. I also had very hard and unusual callous build up all around the back of my heels. And when you think about it, a foot inside a shoe wearing socks etc is a prime region for sweat build up and infections.
What’s more, when I came to the Philippines and wore simple sandals and flip-flops every day (not shoes) my bunions still did not improve.
The fastest way to get rid of bunions/hard skin build-up on the feet is to first shave these regions down to the normal skin if you can and then apply a disinfectant like iodine to get rid of any discreet fungal/bacterial infections sub-dermally.
I would also not recommend topical application of lugol’s iodine alone. Only about 4%-8% of the iodine is absorbed into the skin this way. But if you use a 50-50 mix of one teaspoon of 70% DMSO(Dimethyl-sulfoxide) and one teaspoon lugol’s iodine on the shaved bunion regions, you will get much faster results because of the penetrative and transdermal carrier abilities of DMSO. In other words DMSO carries much more iodine into the skin transdermally giving you faster and quicker outcomes. DMSO is also an anti-inflammatory and will reduce the pain. Result: All bunion pathogens killed with no more bunion formation thereafter.
I have no experience treating foot calluses, [= bunions ?] but I found this nifty, simple, cure on earthclinic.com at Vitamin A cure for bunions by Joyce from Tennessee. She quotes Dr. Jonathin Wright's research.
Hi Bill – please could you explain a bit about the protocol you used for the bunion remedy?
What did you use to apply the 70% DMSO and Iodine solution to bunions, I.e. cotton wool, q-tips? Should I wear gloves? How often did you apply it, was it every day or several times a day? Also please could you say how long it took for them to disappear? Was it weeks, months or years?
Do you have any further tips regarding it please? I am so excited to try this out. Your success with it has inspired me and given me hope! Thanks so much.
Hi Jane…Here is the method I used to get rid of my bunions:
The fastest way to get rid of bunions/hard skin build-up on the feet is to first shave these dead skin regions down to the normal skin if you can and then apply a disinfectant like iodine to get rid of any discreet fungal/bacterial infections sub-dermally.
I would also not recommend a topical application of lugol’s iodine alone. Only about 4%-8% of the iodine is absorbed into the skin this way. But if you use a once daily 50-50 mix of one teaspoon of 99% DMSO(Dimethyl-sulfoxide) and one teaspoon lugol’s iodine on the shaved bunion regions on your feet, you will get much faster results because of the penetrative and transdermal carrier abilities of DMSO into the skin. In other words DMSO carries much more iodine into the skin transdermally giving you faster and quicker healing outcomes.
DMSO is also an anti-inflammatory and will reduce the pain. After washing and cleaning the feet, DMSO/iodine can be applied just using cotton wool. You don’t need gloves for application — just wash your hands afterwards.
Result: All bunion pathogens killed with no more bunion formation thereafter.
UK online nutrient sources:
DMSO — You can buy it from here.
Lugols Iodine — You can buy it from here.
Hi Bill – Thank you so much for your answer!
Please can you remember how long it took before you saw a result?
I am so glad to have found Earth Clinic and your inspiring post. I would be over the moon if this worked for my bunion. Thanks you.
Hi Jane…I can’t really tell you exactly how long it took too cure my bunions. After I shaved the dead skin off my bunions and other areas down to bare skin, I think that I only used the recommended protocol for just over a month. That was at least 3 years ago as I recall.
Since that time, my bunions have never returned and the skin around the perimeters of my feet now feels like proper skin again and not like hard bulging leather. My extra advice to you is don’t just treat the bunion area — treat the whole foot, underside as well. That’s what I did.
Hi Bill – Thank you so much for all your help and advice regarding this. I really appreciate your time and trouble.
Hi Bill, bunions are bony formations under the skin, grown on metatarsophalangeal joint of a big toe. They have nothing to do with callouses. I have bunions, and my skin is perfectly normal above those bunions. My cousin suggested using iodine solution daily on top of bunions daily, and its seems to somewhat reduce those bunions.
Catherine
Hi Bill,
Thank you for this information!
I have a question for you. Do you keep the mixture on the area for a long time every day, or it simply wipe with cotton ball or cloth once a day?
Hi…Earthling2015…Just apply the mixture to your bunion once a day. When I used the remedy, I applied the dmso/lugols iodine mix to the whole foot(for both feet) — apply to bunions, sides, soles and back of the foot as well. Nothing fancy but just make sure to wipe over the whole area. Do this once a day. Also be advised to let the mix soak into the foot and dry off before putting on socks and shoes as iodine can stain.
Whenever I used this ready, I always used it directly after my shower at night — just before bed. I just made sure it was dry and went to straight to bed. This way, there were no staining problems at all because I wasn't wearing socks or shoes.
Thank you, Bill! That's very helpful.
Hi Bill,
I did exactly what you said, DMSO and Iodine. The thick skin over my bunion has hardened and turned white. Did that happen with you? Do you recommend scrubbing it all off and reapplying or does the white dead skin eventually fall off?
Stephanie
Hi Stephanie…Yes, you should use a skin scraper – which is a bit like a miniature potato grater — constantly to get rid of the dead skin and pathogens in the bunion region. Then use a rub stick — a bit like fine grained sandpaper — as you get nearer the new skin. Try scraping or rubbing like this gently once or twice a week as well as using the DMSO an iodine. You’ll know when to stop scraping when you hit new skin — that will cause a bit of pain, so be gentle with yourself.
When I got rid of my own pronounced bunions, I remember that I was constantly rubbing or scraping them down every week. And after you have rubbed down or scraped the bunion area, always lean and disinfect afterwards with the dmso and iodine. That means that there will be no escape for any annoying pathogens in that area…
Coconut Oil
Just over a week ago I began to limp from minor pain in my left foot. Closer inspection revealed a lump protruding at the base of my small toe about the size of a pea. I have never experienced this before but I googled ‘bunions’ anyway and proceeded to tick every box for descriptions and matched every photo for the identification of a Tailor’s Bunion.
Whether it really was a bunion will never be confirmed by a doctor because it’s completely gone – no limp, no pain, no lump. But it sure is a strange place to get a pimple if that’s all it was.
The only treatment I used on it was a 1 minute morning massage with a tiny bit of Coconut Oil and then putting a sock on immediately after, for 3 days. That was it. On the 4th day all was well again so I stopped treating it and haven’t put a foot wrong since.
Cheers.
Well if the bump you were rubbing the coconut oil on disappeared in a few days it was not a bunion. It was either a callous or some other sort of temporary irritation or inflammation. Coconut well has many topical uses but a natural bunionectomy is not one of them
May I ask what type of bunion you were diagnosed with? I want to see if the oil massage would be worth a try. Is yours due to a structural change meaning your big toe was starting to rotate towards the next toe?
Ashley, mine was a self diagnosis – not a medical one, of a Tailor's Bunion (aka Bunionette) – a lump at the outside base of my small toe, and definitely not a callus nor a corn. I had been wearing 'barefoot shoes' for years, no big toe rotation nor structural cramping at all possible. The Coconut Oil massages I gave it at worst cost 3 cents and 3 minutes of my time, and it has never reappeared in the 2 years since. I won't guarantee it will work for anybody else but is worth a go. Perhaps the longer the condition, the longer the treatment time.
I have had a moderate bunion for three years on my right foot and the beginnings of one on my left.
I have been vigorously massaging my feet daily for 15 minutes for a few months and it has had an effect of reducing the inflammation in the toe joint. They are still red when I take my shoes off at the end of the day but they have definitely have improved and are not nearly quite as painful as before. I am going to stick with my foot massage and try adding Tagetes oil to my plain massage oil which is recommended for foot problems and there has been a lot of positive things said about this oil in recent years. I wear looser shoes now with a wider toe box – the tight, pointy shoes have all gone on Ebay. Also, one could try Pilates foot exercises to strengthen the feet.
I couldn't go as far to say massage can cure bunions as they are structural anomalies – extra bone has been formed on the toe joint, but it can bring great relief and stop the worsening of the condition.
Hi Sian, There is a little known therapy called "Foot Joint Mobilisation" which has great success with bunions, hammer toes etc. Google for a practitioner in your area.
I have had a Bunion on my right foot at the base of my big toe since I was a teen. It has never really caused me any pain but I’m wondering if I can now get rid of it without surgery. I have heard massaging the area helps to start the process. Any truth to this?
I developed a bunion more than twenty years ago. I heard shark cartilage could help so I started taking it. The bunion shrank and I never even considered having surgery as my friend, Sandy, did. More recentyly I have used Tiger Balm (red) on it with good success as well.
What side effects were experienced?
Having suffered from bunions for some time the pain was becoming unbearable. Looking for a cure on the internet I came across this site and my goodness rubbing my bunion with turmeric eased the pain straightaway. It can be messy but just use rubber glove and place towel under foot and rub away the pain. It is so soothing. I used about 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric and massaged into my bunion until it was soothed. It really does work – thank you earth clinic for your wonderful site and to all the contributors, keep up the good work.
I have a bad painful bunion, They want to do surgery but I don't want it. I've read about olive oil and tumeric- where can u buy that and is it all oils??
Dear Christy,
Turmeric is a common spice used in curries. You can usually find it in the spice section of grocery stores. Sometimes though they only sell curry mixes. Indian grocers or international markets care turmeric in bulk.
Bentonite clay food grade all the way. Use this topically and with help of tea made of bay leaves to drink cured fast.
Turmeric cure for bunion pain. Rub dried turmeric spice directly on the bunion for relief. You can also take turmeric pills internally to reduce inflammation but I have not tried that yet. It is a bit messy to rub it on so I do it over the bathroom sink and use a plastic glove so that my hand does not turn yellow. I need to reapply every few days to keep the pain away. It is an easy remedy. You can buy Turmeric cheaply in bulk at the health food stores or in the spice aisle of the grocery store.
I had a bunion on my left foot that was making life miserable, when I came across this site. I tried the Turmeric cure listed here, and it was messy (!) but did reduce the bunion a bit. What has worked even better for me is doing the same massage technique with a drop or two of peppermint essential oil. Within an hour of this massage my bunion was greatly reduced, and i had much more mobility in the toes and foot. Peppermint stings, so test this out a little at a time, but for me it really helped!
Olive oil massage for Bunion — I’ve started massaging my big toe bunion and joints with olive oil, using a spacer to align toe, and wearing wider shoes. I notice that my bunion feels more irritated since I’ve started the massaging. Is that typical for those of you who’ve used this method? Also wondered if there’s something that encourages the cartiledge buildup in the joint to reduce. It’s been a challenge finding the right orthodic inserts (?), spacers and doodads to align the toes, and excercises to help rebuild my foot strength. I’m sure you can all relate. Thank you for this ‘alternative’ site and your generous sharing.
Sounds like you are massagging to hard. Massage with plenty of oil, use an old fat towel in your lap and watch t.v. or read a book. The more times a day the better if you could do it 15 -20 minutes morning, noon, night all the better. Also the benefit of the massage is to warm up the whole side of the foot and toes effected by the bunion. Be patient don’t rub so hard. Your hand might get tired or sore so take a little break and begin again.
I was in tears after massaging my bunion. It seemed to make the pain worse. I tried the turmeric rub, and had instant reducion in my pain level. I’m a believer for life. Thanks for this site, I will cx my cortisone injection scheduled for tomorrow. Sharon
I have had an aunt and a niece who both correct their bunions using a combination of olive oil & turmeric (raw) massages, plus wearing a bunion splint at night & in the day when posible. The aunt’s took longer but improved in weeks & both were almost gone in months (the girl’s esp). Massage following techniques for stimulating blood flow and elongating muscles of feet 2 X day. Drink big glass of water before each massage. Exercise feet, esp skating, xcountry ski, beach walking, jogging. if u stick with it u will be amazed.
where are the before and after pictures posted for these changes in bunion size?
I almost married a woman because she would massage my bunion. It helps SO MUCH and provides SO MUCH relief; provide this massage and please a sufferer beyond belief!
I have read that you shouldnt apply any pressure to the bunion because that just causes it to grow quicker. Is this true? I also have a bunion that hasnt been bothering me until now. I cannot have surgery until im 21 but thats in 6 years and I dont like the effects of anesthesia or the sound of surgery in general so im just looking for an alternative…
Thanks for the information everyone! I have always had bumps on the side of my feet by my big toe and just thought it was normal. Now the bumps are much bigger and very painful. Recently, I did notice that when I run longer than normal or run faster the bumps hurt really bad. My “bumps” are so big and the skin is stretched. I will take pictures of before and after and try the tumeric, olive oil rub and let you know. I am in so much pain that I had to stop my daily 3 to 6 mile running and go to the bike and weights. I wear heels only two times a week and flats and sneakers the rest of the time. Not sure why my feet are so prone to these massive eye sores. Thank you, S.A.M.
Hello, you wrote your entry on bunions in 2013. You mentioned you would take before and after pics while using turmeric. Were you able to do so? Would love to see. Thanks!
Oil Massage reduces bunion size.
My husband of 35 years had an extremely large bunion on his big toe.
It was so large the shape of his foot and toes were distorted and the skin so stretched and tight it looked as though it was about to split for a stretch mark.
Years ago when it became a problem, he learned his shoes were too small. Wearing looser shoes stopped the bunion growth and pain, but the size remained huge. The doctors suggested leaving it alone since the pain subsided. Still the distortion was pretty obvious and affected the way he walked. He also had huge very tough calluses.
Our friend suggested rubbing the toe and bunion area several times a day to increase circulation and blood flow to the area and encourage synovial fluid to move around the bones again. I set a timer nearby and began by placing a thick terry towel in my lap under his foot as I began rubbing his toe, bunion and lower foot along that side for 10 minutes every morning. A blister sometimes formed so I began to use a teaspoon of olive oil on his toe/bunion and massage while we talked or read. Occasionally, I would apply a little
more oil. We are usually reading during this time so the time goes quickly. The timer is helpful so you don’t have to keep checking. When my fingers get tired, I use more of my palm to rub the area and then switch back to fingers again after a break. It is helpful to drink a lot of water before starting to get the body well hydrated which aids blood flow and movement of synovial fluid.
After a few days, I began rubbing up to 20 minutes and sometimes would do this twice a day, morning and evening depending on time availably.
We showed our friend again about a month later and he was shocked by the reduction in size and the looseness of the skin. I could literally pinch a half inch between my fingers by then, whereas before it was so tight, there was nothing at all because it was stretched so thin.
The increased blood flow encouraged by the massaging was moving synovial fluid and dissolving the outer layers of excess calcium of the bunion and it is literally being washed away.
We are in to the 2nd month now and it is already enough smaller he can wear a narrower shoe width again after 20 years.
We make a joke now that someday he will have such shapely feet again, that he might think about having skin reduction surgery because it really is quite similar to extreme weight loss leaving a lot of excess hanging skin. If not skin reduction surgery, then maybe a tiny little toe girdle? LOL
Now that is love….sweet.
Jencia Barnswallow’s remedy for bunions worked great for me! I had a bunion about the size of a walnut, and just recently my big toe was starting to turn and lay over the toe next to it, and I could tell the bunion was getting larger. All my shoes were starting to hurt my foot at that spot.
I put a little drop of olive oil (just enough to massage easily)in my hand and gently rubbed all around the big toe, bunion and down that side of my foot. I did it 10 minutes or so, twice a day, while I read or watched TV. I drank a full glass of water first like Jencia suggested to help get the synovial fluid moving. After just two days, I could already tell that the bunion was smaller!! After one week, I am thrilled with the reduction I can see – I wish I had taken a before picture. I will keep doing it – maybe after a month or so I won’t have to do it every day, perhaps once a week? I really massage well around the base of the big toe because it does seem to be turning upright (as in “normal”)again,instead of laying on the next toe. Thank you so much, Jencia, I never would have known to try this if you had not taken the time to write. I visit this site daily and just love it!!
Hi,
I have had a relatively small bunion for some years now and have also found, despite being told that it is impossible to reduce the size of a bunion without surgery, that massage does make a noticeable difference!
If you will add a little TURMERIC powder to the oil… Like say some Castor Oil you will be thrilled at how quick the pain will stop from the Bunion! I did it and couldn’t stop testifying for a month!
I just took a picture of my Bunion and have started the massage. I will let you know in a week how it looks… Thank you
Hi there! Have you tried Bunion Booties? Most of the women in my family wear them and love them. You order them to fit your foot (tip: most of us size down) and can wear them 24/7. They are so comfortable we prefer wearing them to not wearing them. A few ladies in my family have had surgery and had such terrible experiences the rest of us will do anything to avoid surgery. Recently my aunt stumbled upon Bunion Booties and we are all wearing them now and loving it!
Good luck!
I am almost 70 yrs old and have a bunion on my right foot , large toe. It doesn’t hurt a lot because I have learned what shoes to wear. (sneakers & sandals) My toe is bent and covering my next toe…. Kind of ugly… I am going to try this oil massage…… I will NOT get surgery….. I have heard too many horror stories about that! I will take a picture today and start messaging today…. I’ll keep you updated. Thanks for this wonderful site. I recommend it a lot!
Thank you EarthClinic! I tried the massage (without oil), just manually moving the big toe both clockwise and counter clockwise….. and it worked!
I’m now able to wear my old high heel shoes, although I’m careful to take them off as soon as I get home.
The manipulation of the big toes have increased flexibility, reduced pain and decreased my bunions drastically. Sometimes I use coconut oil b/c it smells great, but most of the time I just massage while watching TV w/out oil. I also spread all my toes out a lot, now that I know the importance of stretching!
I'm trying the olive oil massage. Also mixed a teaspoon of turmeric in a glass of water. Will try this for a month and see how it goes. Also walking barefoot.
I'm trying to find out how to do the massage for bunions.
Scroll up to June 19, 2008. We wrote the original article. It’s pretty lengthy. Do it more than once a day that will speed it up. Rub along the side of the foot and around the toe base. This will encourage new blood flow in the area and will warm the foot. Doing 2 or 3 times a day is even more helpful but any lengthy session will help. We didnt know about turmeric but the oil worked. We used olive or coconut and slathered it on for comfort. Use the towel underneath also.